To find a new C-leader in just one month, until the meeting in November, will not be easy.
I am well, just here and now, saddened, sad and sorrowful because I think that the work that the nominating committee did turned out very well and the support for Anna-Karin has been very good, says the chairman of the nominating committee Anders Åkesson.
He mentions that Anna-Karin Hatt just a few weeks ago had allowed herself to be nominated for re-election.
Given that it is quite short of time (until the meeting) it will need to go fast and it will not be easy. But that's how it is, says Åkesson.
The question is how eager other candidates are after Hatt's testimony about the threats and the hate that now makes her leave the assignment.
”Damn it”
EU parliamentarian Emma Wiesner thinks it's "an incredibly tough day for democracy".
It's damn it that this kind of thing should affect our party leaders so that it goes this far, she says.
Emma Wiesner is herself one of those who have previously been mentioned as a possible new C-leader, but does not want to say today if she can imagine standing up.
Now this message must be allowed to sink in, and then we will take a stand on it later, she says.
The heavy C-districts Skåne, Västra Götaland and Stockholm do not want to comment on potential successors at present.
Today is shock processing, but tomorrow is focus forward and on finding a new party leader. I have just started reasoning with myself, and have been on the phone a lot for the last two and a half hours, says Anders Dahlberg, chairman in Västra Götaland.
Lars Hanson, chairman in Skåne, is convinced that the Center Party will solve it.
But it's a huge message, you shouldn't downplay it.
”Roll up your sleeves”
The chairman in Stockholm, Patrik Buddgård, says that the process will be kept internal.
It's a sad day.
But what I've met so far since it became known is a great energy to continue the work that she started, says Buddgård.
Member of Parliament Niels Paarup-Petersen notes that it "luckily" is not his job to find a new party leader.
But there will be people who will want to stand up. It's not always the media that helps, or makes it easier to have the job, he says.
Of course, both we as an organization and the parliament must think about what one can do.
Here are the hot names that will likely be speculated about in the near future:
Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, business policy spokesperson, wanted to be party leader in 2023 and was not entirely dismissive last winter when Hatt was instead elected.
Martin Ådahl, the party's economic policy spokesperson, was also relevant.
Ulrika Liljeberg, legal policy spokesperson, also left the door ajar on that occasion.
Emil Källström was mentioned by several Center Party members as a dream candidate last winter, but then the answer was a firm no.
EU parliamentarian Emma Wiesner also clearly said no at the same time.
Daniel Bäckström lost the party leader battle against Muharrem Demirok in 2023. He did not figure among the hottest candidates when Hatt was elected party leader.
